# McKernel

> light-weight kernel for HPC

**Wikidata**: [Q103820524](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103820524)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mckernel

## Summary
McKernel is a light-weight operating system kernel specifically designed for High-Performance Computing (HPC). Developed by RIKEN, a Japanese scientific research institute, it manages computer hardware resources with a focus on efficiency for computational workloads. The software is open-source, licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2.0.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Operating system (specifically a light-weight kernel for HPC).
- **Developer:** RIKEN, a scientific research institute headquartered in Wakō-shi, Japan.
- **License:** GNU General Public License, version 2.0.
- **Programming Language:** C (identified in source data as Q15777).
- **Source Repository:** Hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel`.
- **Initial Release:** Version 0.4.0 was released on November 11, 2014.
- **Latest Recorded Version:** Version 1.2.2 was released on December 6, 2016.
- **Documentation:** User manual available at `https://ihkmckernel.readthedocs.io/`.

## FAQs
### Q: What is McKernel used for?
A: McKernel is used for High-Performance Computing (HPC). It functions as a light-weight kernel to manage hardware resources more efficiently for scientific and computational tasks than general-purpose operating systems.

### Q: Who developed McKernel?
A: McKernel was created by RIKEN, a major scientific research institute in Japan that was established in 1917.

### Q: Is McKernel free to use?
A: Yes, McKernel is released under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0, making it open-source and free to use, modify, and distribute.

## Why It Matters
McKernel represents a specialized approach to system software architecture, prioritizing performance over the broad compatibility features found in standard general-purpose operating systems. In the domain of supercomputing and scientific simulation, "OS jitter"—interference caused by background system processes—can significantly degrade performance. McKernel addresses this by stripping down the operating system to essential functions, thereby reducing overhead and allowing applications to utilize hardware resources more predictably.

Its development by RIKEN places it within the context of Japan's advanced computing landscape, often associated with the institute's history of developing top-tier supercomputers. By releasing the software as open-source under the GPL v2.0 license, RIKEN has enabled the global HPC community to inspect, utilize, and refine the kernel for various architectural needs. The availability of a dedicated user manual and a public GitHub repository further facilitates its adoption in research environments requiring optimized system-level control.

## Notable For
- **Specialized Architecture:** Designed specifically as a light-weight kernel rather than a full-featured OS, optimizing it for low-latency and high-throughput computing tasks.
- **RIKEN Pedigree:** Developed by one of Japan's most prestigious research organizations, known for leadership in computational science.
- **Open Source Contribution:** Provides a GPL-licensed resource for system software researchers and engineers.
- **Active Development Cycle (Historic):** Demonstrated rapid iteration during its development peak, progressing from version 0.4.0 to 1.2.2 between 2014 and 2016.

## Body

### Development and Origin
McKernel is an operating system kernel developed by **RIKEN**, a comprehensive scientific research institute founded in 1917. RIKEN is headquartered in Wakō-shi, Japan, and employs thousands of researchers and staff. McKernel falls under the class of "operating system" software but is distinct in its design as a "light-weight kernel" tailored specifically for **High-Performance Computing (HPC)** applications.

### Technical Specifications
The software is written in the **C programming language**. It is classified as copyrighted software but is freely distributed under the **GNU General Public License, version 2.0**. This licensing ensures that the source code remains open and modifiable by the community, provided derivative works adhere to the same license terms.

### Version History
The development of McKernel has been tracked through a series of releases hosted on GitHub. The project showed significant activity between 2014 and 2016.

Key release milestones include:
*   **v0.4.0:** Released November 11, 2014.
*   **v0.9.0:** Released July 7, 2015.
*   **v1.0.0:** Released November 13, 2015.
*   **v1.1.0 through v1.1.3:** Released between June and November 2016, focusing on iterative updates.
*   **v1.2.0:** Released November 11, 2016.
*   **v1.2.2:** Released December 6, 2016 (the latest version cited in the provided data).

### Resources
The project maintains a public code repository at **github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel**. For implementation and usage details, a user manual is hosted externally at **ihkmckernel.readthedocs.io**.

## References

1. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel)
2. [Release 0.4.0. 2014](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/0.4.0)
3. [Release 0.9.0. 2015](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/0.9.0)
4. [Release 1.0.0. 2015](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.0.0)
5. [Release 1.1.0. 2016](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.1.0)
6. [Release 1.1.1. 2016](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.1.1)
7. [Release 1.1.2. 2016](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.1.2)
8. [Release 1.1.3. 2016](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.1.3)
9. [Release 1.2.0. 2016](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.2.0)
10. [Release 1.2.1. 2016](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.2.1)
11. [Release 1.2.2. 2016](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.2.2)
12. [Release 1.2.3. 2016](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.2.3)
13. [Release 1.2.4. 2017](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.2.4)
14. [Release 1.2.5. 2017](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.2.5)
15. [Release 1.2.6. 2017](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.2.6)
16. [Release 1.3.0. 2017](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.3.0)
17. [Release 1.4.0. 2017](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.4.0)
18. [Release 1.5.0. 2018](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.5.0)
19. [Release 1.5.1. 2018](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.5.1)
20. [Release 1.6.0. 2018](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.6.0)
21. [Release 1.7.0. 2020](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.7.0)
22. [Release 1.7.2. 2021](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.7.2)
23. [Release 1.7.3. 2021](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.7.3)
24. [Release 1.7.4. 2021](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.7.4)
25. [Release 1.7.5. 2021](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.7.5)
26. [Release 1.7.6. 2021](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.7.6)
27. [Release 1.7.7. 2021](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.7.7)
28. [Release 1.7.8. 2021](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.7.8)
29. [Release 1.7.9. 2021](https://github.com/RIKEN-SysSoft/mckernel/releases/tag/1.7.9)